New smartwatch has ECG and heart rate monitor for a fraction of the Apple Watch's price

The breakout feature on the Apple Watch series 4 has been the timepiece's electrocardiogram (ECG), monitor. This looks for abnormal heart rhythms and can help detect atrial fibrillation (AFib); this condition can lead to blood clots, strokes and can be fatal. The monitor on the Apple Watch has already been credited with saving some lives as has the heart rate monitor on the wearable.

Today, Huami, the company that produces the Mi Band for Xiaomi, unveiled a smartwatch (via GizChina) that has the same heart monitoring features as the latest Apple Watch for a fraction of the price. The Amazfit Verge2 features both an ECG and heart rate monitor, and ECG data can be stored on the watch for seven days. The device also carries an eSIM, a chip that is embedded inside the timepiece that allows the watch to connect with all Chinese carriers. This means that the device can be used to make or take calls. It also uses its GPS feature to automatically track 10 sports including running, walking, indoor running, indoor riding, elliptical, mountaineering, outdoor riding, football, skipping and trail running.

We should point out that it isn't known how accurate the ECG monitor is on the Amazfit Verge2 since it has not received FDA certification. The ECG monitor on the Apple Watch series 4 has been cleared by the FDA, which of course is a U.S. regulatory agency.

While it isn't clear whether the global version of the watch offers the eSIM support, the Verge2 is equipped with narrowband network technology. This will allow you to report an emergency without having to pair the device to a smartphone. Those in China can use the wearable to connect with Alipay's offline mobile payment service.

The Amazfit Verge2 comes with a 1.39-inch circular AMOLED display with a resolution of 454 x 454. It is powered by a Snapdragon Wear 2500 chip and features 512MB of memory and 4GB of eMMC storage. The 420mAh battery keeps the watch running for up to 28 hours and supports NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi connectivity. With an IP68 rating, the device is dust resistant and can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes. The watch will sync with an iOS (10.0 or higher) and Android (4.4 or higher) phone.

The Amazfit Verge2 can be pre-ordered now from TMALL; there is an Avengers limited edition that features a special watch band and watchfaces that will set you back $216. The model with ECG support and 4G LTE connectivity is priced at $187 and includes a hybrid leather and silicone strap. The standard edition, without the ECG tracking, is priced at $144 with a silicone strap.